Chapter 4231 — A Grudge Is Born
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Though it was certain as certain could be that Cheng Qitian would have his eye on them from now on, so long as their names and origins remained unknown, Cheng Qitian would have to expend considerable effort even to investigate their backgrounds. That made them relatively safer—concealing it for a time was worth it.
Of course, he had not brought the Thousand-Layer Mask on this mission. With Huang Xiaotao accompanying him, and in an unfamiliar place like the Wei Arc sea region where they knew neither the people nor the land, wearing it or not made little difference.
Better by far to keep it in reserve for an emergency. If matters truly came to the point where he had no choice, he could put on the mask, alter his appearance, and slip into a crowd—who would recognize him then?
"So the two of you are disciples of the Sandie Pavilion of the North Island—a great sect indeed! Forgive my discourtesy, forgive my discourtesy." Qi Wenmo at once wore an expression of long-standing admiration, cupping his hands again and again.
"Not at all, not at all. We are merely ordinary inner disciples. Coming out to train this time, we shall still need Brother Qi's generous support." Wei Zhao smiled faintly, secretly observing the expressions of Qi Wenmo and that Nascent Soul servant, and found that the other party was indeed noticeably less guarded than before.
He had deliberately brought up the Sandie Pavilion of the North Island to show that their origins were clear and legitimate, precisely in order to win Qi Wenmo's trust. Otherwise, had he rattled off some fabricated background, it would have been no great matter, but it was highly likely the other man would have spotted the flaw—and then he would truly have been hoist with his own petard.
"Surely, surely. Since the two of you hail from a renowned sect like the Sandie Pavilion of the North Island, no wonder your skills are extraordinary—you even wounded that Old Kong of the Cheng family. Truly a sight to marvel at." Qi Wenmo smiled with an air of amiability, though his words carried three parts flattery and seven parts probing.
"Heh heh, a trifling trick, merely a stroke of luck." Wei Zhao brushed it off with a laugh, showing no inclination to elaborate.
"Haha, Young Master Ling, that is far too modest of you. Excessive modesty is a veiled form of pride—if you put it that way, where does that leave me? Even if I used every ounce of strength I had, I could not wound him a hair!" Qi Wenmo took the initiative to clink cups with Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao, laughing at his own expense.
"The only reason we could wound him was that he trusted too much in his own superior strength and grew careless for a moment. A second time, we might not have such good fortune." Wei Zhao waved a hand dismissively with a smile.
"Even so, it proves the two of you have real skill, and talent is hard to come by. Our Qingtian Escort Agency needs fine hands like you, Young Master Ling. Since the two of you intend to train here, why not let the Qingtian Escort Agency serve as your backing? At least there would be someone to look out for you." Qi Wenmo smiled on.
Wei Zhao's earlier guess had been entirely correct. Though this man was by nature generous and forthright, as the young master of the Qingtian Escort Agency, his every action represented the agency's stance. He and Wei Zhao were neither kin nor friends—how could he possibly have acted out of sheer righteous indignation and publicly offend a figure like Cheng Qitian for no reason?
The real reason was that he had taken a liking to the strength of Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao. On paper they were merely early Golden Core cultivators, hardly formidable, yet together the two of them had wounded a peak early Nascent Soul expert like Old Kong. What astonishing strength that was!
Hence he was utterly convinced that these two disciples from the Sandie Pavilion of the North Island must hold some exceedingly powerful trump card. (To be continued...)